Fans of the Boulder Public Library District’s BLDG 61 Makerspace can look forward to expanded studio time and new spaces for creating in the not-too-distant future.
Located in the north building at the main Boulder library branch at 1001 Arapahoe Ave., BLDG 61 bills itself as a “free community workshop dedicated to hands-on learning and the cultivation of purposeful experiences through making.” Members of the public can use numerous pieces of industrial equipment, such as woodworking tools and laser cutters, free of charge at BLDG 61.
The 8-year-old makerspace has become so popular that studio appointments typically book up within minutes after they’re posted. The library district has confirmed it plans to hire several more staff members at BLDG 61 to meet community demand for more studio time.
In addition, the library district will open a new makerspace called Studio 24 this summer at the nearly-finished North Boulder Branch Library at 4500 13th St. In contrast with the industrial equipment at BLDG 61, Studio 24 will host studio spaces and workshops centered around more art-focused topics, such as fiber art and printmaking.
Jess Rainy, makerspace manager for the library district, said this summer will be a “time of huge expansion” for the makerspaces.
“Ultimately, we’re really hoping to welcome more community members into both the makerspaces. So, as soon as we can, with additional staffing, we would love to see people from all walks of life come in, use these spaces and engage in creative work,” she said.
According to Rainy, the library district has already hired two new staff members for BLDG 61 and plans to hire several more. But Rainy emphasized that expanded studio availability there will probably not come until after Studio 24 is finished and open to the public, likely in July. The new North Boulder Branch Library is expected to open by late June.
When Studio 24 opens, the library district wants to have an array of workshops, classes and other programming already on the books so creators can learn the skills they’re most interested in and get guidance on their projects.
And by later this year, Studio 24, which has a garage door that opens to the outside, will also have an “outdoor makerspace.” Rainy said that area will be available for fiber dyeing, metalworking and other “messier” projects that can be done in an outdoor plaza.
“We hear the community demand, and we’re really excited to be able to meet it and offer new things as soon as we’re able to,” she said.
David Farnan, director of the new taxpayer-funded Boulder Public Library District, said other library districts have been operating makerspaces for decades. The Boulder library district embraces a goal of increasing all types of literacy, and makerspaces help accomplish that, he said.
“The primary one, really, is technological literacy, and giving people the tools and skills that they need in a 21st-century environment,” said Farnan.
